Colonel Yan was suspicious, but he didn’t press further.
As long as it didn't affect the big picture, he didn't care to meddle.
“Alright, you may go,” Colonel Yan said with a wave of his hand.
“Someone from the Deep Blue Research Institute should be here tomorrow to coordinate. Once the matter with the Shadow-Stalker Beast is handled, we’ll turn the page on this whole thing.”
Liu Sen stood up and said respectfully, “Yes, Colonel Yan.”
He turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Colonel Yan’s voice came from behind him:
“By the way, Lieutenant Liu, that Lei Lie—the Level 3 hunter you mentioned—where is he now?”
Liu Sen’s footsteps faltered, and his heart rate suddenly accelerated.
However, his face remained calm as he turned back. “He should still be in the Outer City.”
Colonel Yan nodded. “For him to be able to track a Shadow-Stalker Beast, he must have significant skills. If there’s an opportunity, have him come by the City Defense Force for a chat.”
Liu Sen’s heart tightened, but he kept his expression neutral. “Understood. I’ll contact him later.”
He pushed the door open and left.
Once Liu Sen’s figure disappeared outside the door, the smile on Colonel Yan’s face slowly faded.
He sat back behind his desk, staring at the intelligence reports, his brow furrowing slightly.
A building that remained perfectly intact under artillery fire.
A mysterious faction with robots, order, and the ability to attract vagrants.
A Level 3 hunter capable of capturing a Shadow-Stalker Beast alive.
And Liu Sen, whose attitude had become somewhat subtle after returning from that place.
“Interesting,” Colonel Yan murmured.
He picked up the communicator on his desk and pressed a number:
“Check the recent movements of the Night Owl mercenary team for me. Also, look into that hunter named Lei Lie. The more detailed the background, the better.”
A brief voice came from the other end of the communicator: “Understood.”
Colonel Yan put down the communicator and turned his gaze toward the grey, overcast sky outside the window.
The waters of Panshi City seemed to be getting murkier and murkier.
...
After leaving the City Defense Force headquarters, Liu Sen’s tensed nerves finally relaxed slightly.
He turned and headed toward the Night Owl mercenary team base.
When Liu Sen pushed the door open and entered, Lei Lie was leaning back on the sofa with his eyes closed, seemingly resting.
Scarface and the others were gathered around the pool table, chatting idly.
“You’re back?” Scarface looked up. “Well? Did Colonel Yan give you a hard time?”
Liu Sen plopped down on the sofa and let out a long breath:
“A hard time? He nearly scared me to death.”
He recounted everything that had just happened.
When he mentioned that Colonel Yan already knew about the building’s existence, everyone’s expressions shifted.
Scarface frowned. “Colonel Yan knows about the building? Then we…”
Lei Lie opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Liu Sen. “What did Colonel Yan say? Does he plan to move against the building?”
Liu Sen shook his head. “Not exactly. He just said I have to give the Panshi Company an explanation. As for the building… he didn’t bring it up.”
“He didn’t bring it up?” Scarface was stunned. “Isn’t he curious? A building that can survive artillery fire—he doesn't want to know what’s going on at all?”
Liu Sen gave a bitter smile. “How could he not be curious? But he’s smart!”
“The fact that the building survived the shelling is a statement in itself. Before he figures out its background, he won’t act rashly.”
Lei Lie nodded. “This Colonel Yan is not a simple man.”
Liu Sen nodded and shot Lei Lie a look. “Of course not. Otherwise, the person sitting in that position would be me!”
How could someone who held a steady grip on the position of General Commander of the City Defense Force be simple?
“By the way,” Liu Sen remembered something, “Colonel Yan also asked about you.”
He looked at Lei Lie.
Lei Lie raised an eyebrow. “Asked about me?”
“Yeah. He said for a Level 3 hunter to find a Shadow-Stalker Beast, you must have significant skills. He said if there’s a chance, you should come to the City Defense Force for a chat.”
Scarface and the others exchanged looks, their expressions subtle.
It wasn't rare for the City Defense Force to recruit Level 3 Ability Users.
But for Colonel Yan to personally mention it, the weight of the invitation was entirely different.
Lei Lie remained silent for a few seconds before saying flatly, “We’ll see.”
Liu Sen nodded and didn't press the matter further.
He stood up and stretched his injured leg. “I need to make a trip to the Panshi Company. The benefits I swallowed, I have to spit back out now.”
Scarface chuckled mockingly. “How much are you spitting back?”
Liu Sen’s face turned green. “Damn it, I originally took three hundred thousand Star Coins as a trouble fee, plus a batch of military equipment. Now I have to pay it back double.”
“Double?”
“They’re going to want compensation, aren't they? After all, that building is still there, and the vagrants who killed their team members are still alive and well.” Liu Sen sighed.
“I reckon it’ll be at least six hundred thousand, plus a batch of equipment of equal value.”
Scarface sucked in a cold breath.
Six hundred thousand Star Coins plus a batch of equipment—that compensation was indeed brutal.
Liu Sen looked miserable. “There’s no other way. I’m the one who took their money in the first place. Luckily, the bounty for the Shadow-Stalker Beast came through, otherwise I couldn't afford to pay even if I sold everything I owned.”
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Lei Lie:
“By the way, the bounty arrived, right?”
Lei Lie nodded, pulled a metal card from his chest pocket, and handed it to Liu Sen.
It was a universal credit card used in Panshi City for storing and transferring Star Coins.
“Three million, all inside. According to what the Landlord said, we left forty thousand for you to grease some palms. The remaining two million six hundred thousand will be split among us.”
Liu Sen took the card and swiped it on a nearby terminal.
A string of numbers popped up on the screen—
【Account Balance: 400,000 Star Coins】
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Four hundred thousand was enough to handle Colonel Yan’s side and cover a portion of what he owed the Panshi Company.
As for the remaining two hundred thousand gap, he would just have to find a way to cover it himself.
However, Liu Sen believed that as long as he followed Su Wan, he would definitely be able to earn more money in the future.
“Alright, I’m heading to the Panshi Company now.” Liu Sen tucked the card away and walked toward the door.
At the doorway, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Lei Lie:
“Old Lei, do you think… the Panshi Company will send people to cause trouble for that building?”
Lei Lie was silent for a moment before saying flatly:
“That’s their business.”
Liu Sen nodded and pushed the door open.
...
Panshi Company, Outer City branch.
This was a six-story building that looked exceptionally grand amidst the low, dilapidated structures of the Outer City.
The exterior was inlaid with silver-grey metal panels, and two uniformed security guards stood at the entrance, clearly well-trained.
Liu Sen stood at the entrance, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
The first-floor lobby was spacious and bright, renovated to look like an office building from the Old Era.
A young woman sat at the front desk. Seeing Liu Sen enter, she flashed a professional smile:
“Hello, sir. How can I help you?”
Liu Sen produced his City Defense Force identification. “I’m looking for the head of your Outer City branch, Manager Zhao.”
The receptionist glanced at the ID, and her smile faded slightly:
“Please wait a moment while I contact him for you.”
She spoke into the phone for a few moments, then said to Liu Sen, “Manager Zhao is waiting for you on the third floor. Take the elevator on the left to Room 308.”
Liu Sen nodded and headed toward the elevator.
Rate on N.U.
